The Green Bay Packers could land this year’s first big free agent fish, and according to consistent reports, Muhammad Wilkerson, who was fired from the New York Jets, will meet with the Packers this week.
This is reported by Tom Silverstein from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Rob Demovsky from ESPN. Wilkerson is scheduled to meet with the Packers on Wednesday, exactly one week before the Free Agency officially begins.
The defensive end had been fired from the jets after seven sometimes turbulent years. Wilkerson is said to have become a serious problem internally and instead of being a leader, as the team had hoped with the expensive contract extension in 2016, he was more of a troublemaker. On several occasions he has violated the rules of the team while demonstrating a desolate attitude to work.
Since the 28-year-old has been dismissed and his contract does not simply expire, he can contact teams right now. Although further franchises are to be added to his list, he will obviously meet with the Packers first.
One reason for this could be the new Defensive Coordinator in Green Bay: Under Mike Pettine Wilkerson had already played in his first two NFL seasons 2011 and 2012, obviously both have a good memory. It is expected that Wilkerson will seek an agreement with a team before the negotiation window opens next Monday and the Free Agency on Wednesday and all other players with expiring contracts become available.